I have the choice to config a new laptop with either a single 160gb Intel 320 SSD (advertised read/write: 270/165mb/s) or an 80gb msata Intel 310 (advertised read/write: 200/70mb/s) + 320GB 5400 RPM Mech HDD.

The 160GB will be enough space for the next while anyway. I can currently fit Windows 7 install (~25 GB) + programs (20-30GB) comfortably on an 80 GB SSD.

Obviously the extra storage space of the mSATA + HDD config is appealing, but so is the somewhat faster performance of the Intel 320 SSD.

Any price differences aside, what would you choose?

Thanks in advance for any opinions. I've been wasting a few hours so far, unable to decide.

Edit: Poll Anyone?

Last edited by cynan on Thu Nov 24, 2011 4:47 pm, edited 3 times in total.

A 320GB 5400 RPM won't be terrible, but it isn't exactly ideal either. The only 5400 RPM drive I'd consider in a laptop right now is the 1TB size models. As at least then you're getting a density performance advantage.

Perhaps I should clarify. This will not be used for gaming (or at least very rarely).

Mostly work + a bit of multimedia (few gigs of music and a couple of movies/TV episodes for when I travel). Hence I don't anticipate having to find room for the Steam directory or other large games that would hog program directory space. (I have a desktop for that). This thing will only have Intel HD 3000 graphics anyway, so I won't even really have the option to game with it.

cynan wrote:Ordered with the 160 gb. Was sort of leaning that way anyway. Thanks again for the help!

Sounds like the right choice. On a desktop, it usually makes more sense to split between an SSD boot drive and a large mechanical drive for general storage. On a laptop, the SSD-only option has the advantage of a lighter power footprint.